Separable machine or equipment handle



Sept. 8, 1953 a v. O'MALEY 25513075- S-EPARABLE MACHINE 0R EQUIPMENT HANDLE Filed Aug. 16, '1950 ZSnomtor attorneys Patented Sept. 8, 1953 SEPARABLE MACHINE R EQUIPIWENT HANDLE Claude Vincent OMaley, Richmond, Ind., assignor to The Moto-Mower Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application August 16, 1950, Serial N 0. 179,826

3 Claims. (Cl. 16-111) This invention relates to machine and equipment handles and, in particular, to demountable handles which are separable for shipment or storage.

One object of this invention is to provide a machine or equipment handle of a parallel frame construction having upper and lower frame portions which are capable of being separated into their individual components or into upper and lower units in order to adapt them for more convenient shipment or storage. l

Another object is to provide a machine or equipment handle which is composed of parts adapted to fit into the carton or other container in which the machine itself is shipped, thereby having all parts of the machine in a single container without danger of losing or separating the various parts.

Another object is to provide a machine or equipment handle of a parallel frame construction wherein the upper and lower portions are separate units, each of which is of bent construction so that in assembly the upper bent portions form handle bars and the lower bent portions a yoke for attachment to the machine or equipment with which the handle is used.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a machine or equipment handle, according to one form of the invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the handle shown in Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken along the line 33 in Figure 1.

Hitherto, in lawnmowers or other machines or equipment guided or propelled by a handle, it has been customary to ship the handle separately from the machine because the great length of the handle does not readily adapt itself to shipment in the same container as the remainder of the machine. This policy, however, has frequently resulted in handles being lost or mislaid so that when the machine is to be assembled, it lacks the proper handle. Furthermore, the ordinary lawnmower is a very unwieldy piece of equipment when it is desired to transport it by automobile, particularly in the trunk of an automobile. The present invention provides a demountable handle which can be separated either into upper and lower units or completely knocked down into its individual components, in either case being compact enough to be packed in the same carton or container as the remainder of the machine.

Referring to the drawings in detail, Figure 1 shows a machine or equipment handle, generally designated I6, consisting generally of an upper or handle unit I I and a lower or yoke unit I2 secured to one another by a coupling unit or structure I3. The upper and lower units II and I2 areunited to one another end to end so that the handle It may be separated approximately into halves. The upper and lower units II and I2 are made of such'length as to fit conveniently within the carton in which the lawnmower cutting unit is packed, thereby placing all parts of the machine in a single container.

The upper unit or handle unit II consists of a pair of upper frame members I4 having shaft or lower portions I5 connected to handle bar portions I6 by bent portions IT. The upper frame members It are preferably of tubular construction and on their upper ends are preferably provided with hand grips l8 of rubber or other suitable material. The portions l5 and I6 are preferably bent approximately at right angles to one another for convenience of use. The frame members I4 are spaced 'apart from one another by a spacer, generally designated I9 consisting of a block or bar 26 bored as at 2I to receive a tie bolt or other fastener 22 which also passes through holes 23 in the shaft portions I5 just below the bent portions [1. The lower ends 24 of the shaft portions I5 abut the upper ends 25 of the yoke members 26 in end to end relationship.

The lower or yoke unit I2 consists of two of these yoke members 26 having substantially parallel upper portions 21, outwardly bent upper intermediate portions 28, inwardly bent lower intermediate portions 29, and parallel lower portions 36 terminating in flattened end portions 3| provided with holes 32 for the attachment of the machine or'other equipment. The yoke members 26 are thus bent in opposite directions to one another and are also preferably of tubular construction.

The upper and lower units I I and I2 are spaced apart from one another and also connected to one another by the coupling unit or structure I3 which is in the form of a block 33 having grooved opposite edges 34 (Figure 3) configured to fit the shaft portions I5 of the upper frame members I4 and also to fit the upper straight portions 21 of the yoke members '26. The block 33 is provided with spaced drilled holes 34 (Figure 3) aligned with similar holes 36 and 31 in the frame members I4 and yoke members 26 respectively. There are preferably two holes 35 in the upper half of the block 33 and two holes 35 in the lower half of the block 33, so that the block 33 will be approximately equally distributed between the handle unit II and the yoke unit I2. In other words, the line of junction or parting line between the lower ends 24 of the frame members I4 and the upper ends 25 of the yoke members 26 will lie approximately halfway along the vertical extent of the block 33. Bolts or other fasteners 38 are inserted through the holes 36 or 31 and 35 to clamp the frame members I4 and the manner shown in the drawings, to disassem-- ble it into halves, the operator removes the upper pair of bolts or other fasteners 38, thereby free.- ing the upper unit I I from the lower unit l2, and

leaving the block 33 in place betweenfthe yoke members 26 of the lower unit f2. If the canon is large enough, the upper and lower units l! and [2, thus separated, may be packed if mor compactness is desired or is necessary, however, all of the bolts 38 are removed, together bolt 22, causing the blocks 20 and 33 to become separated from the frame members ts and yoke members 26 respee'uveiy. The bolts 22 38' may then be replaced their respective blocks 20 and 33, so as not t be lost." The marine, when thus disassembled to its makiri-rum'extent, then consists of two framemembers M equipped with hand grips it, two yoke members 26 and two blocks it and 33 carrying their "respective bolts 22 and 38. This makes a total of six pieces to. be packed in the carton or other eentainer for the macl-iine. V

To reassemble the iriach ine ha'ndle 1 the fore going procedure is reversed. The blocks 24!- and 33 are placed in position with the 'frame mem-bers M engaging their opposite sides orends, as the case may be, and when theresp'eotive bolt holes are 1-ihedu-p, the bolts 22 38 are inserted and their nuts applied and tightened. The tower or yoke members 2 6 are then brought into engagement with the lower side portions of the block 33 with their ends '25 a proximatdy abutment with the ends 24 of the fraine me-mbers 1 4, where-- upon the holes 31 and 35 will be in alignment. The IoWer air :of bolts 38 may then be inserted and their nuts applied and tightened, forming the component parts into a substantially unitary and rigid handle which is both strong and .iree :fi'om weaving as well as light'and attractive inappear-J ance. Moreover, the upper and lower blocksv and 33 furnish a convenient means of inf-ting the entire machine when it is desired to pick it up to place it in a truckor upon anteleizated surface.

What I claim is:

1. A machine or equipment handle comprising; an upper handle unit. having a pair of approXi-l matelyparallel elongated frame members spaced laterally apart from one another and having oppositely and outwardly upper ends colle'ctively forming a handlebar; a lower handle, unit having a pair of spaced yoke members with approximately parallel upper portions also spaced laterally apart from-one another substana tial-ly the same distance as the spacing of said frame members and placed substantially end to end with said frame members, said yoke members having outwardly bent lower portions with lower ends configured for attachment to the machine; and a couplingstructure-having a width substantially equal to the :lateralspacing of said frame members and said yoke member upperportions disposed between said upper portion-of said frame members and between.said yoke.members, said coupling structure having; a length relatively short in proportion to its Width and overlapping said frame members and yoke mem bers only in the immediate vicinity of their adjoining ends wherebysaid couplings'tructure also.

serves as a lower hand grip for handling the machine or equipment to which it is attached.

2. A machine or equipment handle comprising upper handle "unit having a pair of approximately -"parallel elongated frame members spaced laterally apart from one another and having oppositely and outwardly bent upper ends collectively forming a handle bar and having a lateraily-elongated spacing member forming an upper hand grip disposed therebetween; a lower handle unit having =a paiir oi-spaced yoke members with approgimatelyparaliei upper portions also spaced laterally apart from one another substantially the same, distance as the spacing of said frame members, and placed substantially end to end with said frame members, said yoke members having outwardly bent lower portions with lower ends :configured for attachment to the machine; and a coupling :structurehaving :a. width substantially equal to the lateral spacing :of said frame. members and said yoke member upper portions disposed between said upper portion "of said frame members and between said yoke members, said coupling having a length relatively short in proportion to. its Width and overlapping said frame members and yoke members only in the immediate. vioniity of their adj oining end-s.

whereby said coupling structure also serves :as ea iower :hand gripv tor handling the. machine or equipment to which it :is attached.

3. is machine or equipment handlev comprising an upper handle unitghayiang a :pair of approximately parallel elongated frame members spaced laterally apart from nine another and having oppositely and outwardly bent upper ends C01?- lectiyely forming ta handle bar; a low-er-handle unit having :a. .pair =o'f spaced yoke members with. approximately parallel upper portions. alsov spaced laterally apart from one 'andther substantially the same distance as the spacing of said frame. members and placed substantially :end to :end with said frame members, said yoke members having outwardly bent iower-pontions'with lower.

ends configured for attachment to the machine; a "coupling structure havinga width substantially equal to the lateral sparring of said iframe: members and said yoke member upperlpontionsdisposed :beitweenzsaid upper portion of said frame members and between said yoke. members, said,

coupling structure having :a. flength relatively short in proportion to its widthiand overlapping said iframe members. and'yoke. members only in the iimneiiiate, of their :adioini ng ae'nds whereby said coupling structure also serves :as a.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNZITED STA IES PATENTS Number Name Date,

D. 123 ,3 13 Roth Oct. "29, 19140 23153726 "Pasin Get. i935 2; i 5 8';989 George Jan. 1 1, 1949' 2511,1560

Gr'obowski June '13, 1 950 

